Dual function wrench

ABSTRACT

A dual function wrench including two work-engaging members cooperatively joined to enable selectively individual rotative application of torque or alternatively conjoint interengaged application of torque to different sections of a single piece of work.

Unlted States Patent n 1 11 3,779,104 Curry 5] Dec. 18, 1973 DUAL FUNCTION WRENCH [76] Inventor: James R. Curry, 4276 Latimer 'm Examl'fer othen smlpson Ave. San Jose Assistant Examiner-James Attorney-Paul B. Fihe [22] Filed: Mar. 3, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 231,599

[57] ABSTRACT [52] US. Cl. 81/119 A dual function wrench including two work-engaging [51] Int. Cl .Q. B25b 13/48 members cooperatively joined to enable selectively in [58] Field of Search; 7/1 G; 81/1 19 dividual rotative application of torque or alternatively v conjoint interengaged application of torque to differ- [56] References Cited ent sections of a single piece of work.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 Cl 3 D F 324,104 9/1885 Goodson 81/1 19 rawmg "gums DUAL FUNCTION WRENCH FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relatesgenerally to wrenches and more particularly-to a wrench having two or more cooperative work-engaging sectionsso as to be capable of performing different functions.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A number of wrenches are used for the installation and operation of rough" plumbing pipes and fixtures as well as finish" plumbing wherein valves .or other structures are installed within a residence or other and other plumbing tools on finish plumbing such as chrome plated valvebodies and housings within a residence require utmost care to avoid scoring or otherwise marringthe polished finish and rendersthe task tedious and frustrating, particularly when the installation or operation occurs within a confined space such as the enclosing cabinetbeneath a bathroom sink. The problem is aggravated by the fact that initial installation of such a valve requires application of considerable torque and substantial torque is also required to open orclose the valve after installation because of the fact that it is not frequently manipulated between its open and closedpositions.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION Accordingly, itisthe general objective of the present invention to provide a specialized wrench which incorporates two ormore work-engaging sections that can be utilized separately or in cooperationto enable performance of different plumbing operations, suchas, for example, the installation and operation of a valve without deleterious effects on its exposed, finished surfaces. Generally, one of the work-engaging sections or members is designed to function separately to perform one function. In the caseof a valve including a valve body or housing, and an operatively attached handle, the'sinbuilding. Utilization of such conventional wrenches 7 gle work-engaging member canconstitute a socket or shank 14 of the first work-engaging member 10, thus other structure arranged to engage the handle so that application of torque to thewrenc'h section will facilitate opening or closing of the valve. A second workengaging member is conjoined with the first in a noncooperative disposition during such operation of the valve so as not to interfere but is capable of connective interengagement with the first work-engaging member so that when torque is appliedto the first, it simultaneously is applied to the second work-engaging member and the two members then function in concert for a different function. In the specific case of the valve, this second work-engaging member can take the form of a pair of fixed jaws designed to encompass and operatively engage the valve body so that application of torque willeffect rotation of the valve body in unison with the handle thus to facilitate easy installation'of the valve on a projecting, threaded pipe. Preferably, the lateral dimensions of both work-engaging members are maintained at a minimum and an axial drive socket is provided in the first work-engaging member to facilitate application ofthe torque to the unit by the conven-. tional drive member of an ordinary socketset, thusp'ermitting the application of torque in the installation of a valve or other fixture in a relatively confined space.

in which it isachieved as summarized hereinabove, will be more readily understood by a perusal of the follow ing detailed description of the exemplary embodiment of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a dualvfunction wrench in operative position for the turning of a standard valve handle, the latter being indicated in :phantom lines,

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of the wrenchas viewed from the right of FIG. 1, and

FIG. 3 is a perspective view generally similar to FIG. 1 but showing the dual functioning of the wrench sections in cooperative relationship for the installation of a valve,the latter being again shown in phantom lines.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION pass an elliptical valve handle indicated at H in FIG. 1

to enable the application of torque to turnthe handle in amanner so that no relative slippage occurs, thus to eliminate any marring of the handle surfaces. With additional reference to FIG. 2, a rectangular socket 16 is formed at the opposite end of the shank 14 for reception of a conventional drive member (not shown) of a socket set although, as will be apparent, the elliptical socket 12 can-have a different configuration for the application of torque to different valve handles, and, in

turn, different torque-applying means can be arranged on the shank 14.

The second work-engaging member 20 includes a pair of fixed jaws 22 that project in parallelism from the end of a rigid metal strap 24 whose opposite extremity is pivotally mounted on a pivot pin .26 attached exteriorly of a metal ring 28' that loosely encompasses the allowing turning of such first work-engaging member, for example,when operating a handle as illustrated in FIG. 1, without any corresponding rotation of the second work-engaging member 20. The ring 28 which mounts the second work-engaging member in addition to allowing the relative rotation of the two members 1 0,

20 also permits limited axial sliding motion, limited by in the installation of the valve V as generally illustrated in FIG. 3, cooperative interengagable elements are formed on the first and second work-engaging members 10, 20, and, as specifically shown, include a pair of rebentflanges 30 on the exterior of the socket 12 of a the first work-engaging member 10that form slots that axially to bring the lateral ears 34 into the slots, the slidable and rotatable mounting of the ring 28 permitting such interconnection to be established. In such interconnected position, the centers of the jaws 22 and the socket 12 are axially aligned, and any torque applied to the first work-engaging member through for example, utilization of the drive member of the socket set, is, in turn, transferred to the second work-engaging member 20 and the two rotate in unison. When applied to the installation of a valve, as indicated in FIG. 3, the elliptical socket member 12 is in engagement with the valve handle H and the fixed jaws 22, in turn, operatively encompass a hexagonal portion of the valve body so that rotation is imparted to the entire valve V for its threaded application to the end of a threaded pipe. Again, close encompassment of both engaged sections of the valve V is achieved so that the installation can occur rapidly without marring the exterior surfaces of the valve.

As has been indicated throughout the foregoing description, many modifications and/or alterations in the configuration of the work-engaging members and their cooperative interengaging elements can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention; and accordingly, the actual scope of the invention is to be indicated only by reference to the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A dual-function wrench which comprises a first work-engaging member,

a second work-engaging member, and means including cooperative interengagable elements on said first and second work-engaging members for connecting said members for conjoint operation in unison, said first and second workengaging members being disposed in axial alignment when connected by said interengagable elements. 2. A dual-function wrench according to claim 1 wherein said first work-engaging member forms an elliptical work-encompassing socket. 3. A dual-function wrench according to claim 1 wherein said second work-engaging member includes a pair of fixed jaws. 4. A dual-function wrench according to claim 1 wherein said work-engaging members are connected for relative axial and rotative motion when said members are not connected by said interengagable elements. 5. A dual-function wrench according to claim 4 wherein said connecting means includes means forming a slot on one of said members and an ear on the other of said members to enable interconnection upon preestablished relative axial motion of said two workengaging members. 

1. A dual-function wrench which comprises a first work-engaging member, a second work-engaging member, and means including cooperative interengagable elements on said first and second work-engaging members for connecting said members for conjoint operation in unison, said first and second work-engaging members being disposed in axial alignment when connected by said interengagable elements.
 2. A dual-function wrench according to claim 1 wherein said first work-engaging member forms an elliptical work-encompassing socket.
 3. A dual-function wrench according to claim 1 wherein said second work-engaging member includes a pair of fixed jaws.
 4. A dual-function wrench according to claim 1 wherein said work-engaging members are connected for relative axial and rotative motion when said members are not connected by said interengagable elements.
 5. A dual-function wrench according to claim 4 wherein said connecting means includes means forming a slot on one of said members and an ear on the other of said members to enable interconnection upon pre-established relative axial motion of said two work-engaging members. 